stuffed hatch green chiles

currently listening to "one last time" by the kooks

if you know me, then you know that i like my food spicy.. extra spicy. i think we can blame the fact that i grew up watching my dad eating raw jalapenos at dinner and wanting to be just as cool as him. now i douse everything with tabasco, sriracha, red pepper flakes.. you name it. and who knew that spicy foods are actually really great for you? they can curb hunger, strengthen muscles, boost brainpower, and improve your mood! so try to incorporate some spice into your next meal; here's a spicy dish/recipe that i came up with last week for some friends to help get you started:

ingredients:
7 hatch green chiles
2 italian style turkey sausage links
1/2 c freshly cut cilantro
1/2 c diced cherry tomatoes
1/2 c bread crumbs
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
1/2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice cooking wine
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil

1. pre-heat oven to 400°
2. slice open one side of hatch chile, making sure to get rid of the seeds and membranes, rinse*
3. combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl and mix
4. stuff each hatch chile with mix
5. secure with toothpicks so that the stuffing doesn't fall out
6. spray glass pan with light cooking spray, place hatch chiles in
7. bake for 30-40 minutes or until hatch chile skins look slightly charred

*be careful not to touch your eyes when you're working with these chiles! 

healthy living

currently listening to "i'm alive (live)" by kenny chesney and dave matthews

sorry i've been failing at posting lately, what with trying to plan for europe, work and making time for friends.. i oftentimes feel too worn out to make the time to blog. so last night i decided to take a bath and it did wonders, which made me think why don't i do this more often?!  this week's suggestion is to relax and de-stress with a bubble bath.



i could go on and on about how to create healthy living options for yourself through means of food and working out, but sometimes it's necessary to be reminded to take a break from all of that and just relax. keeping your mind and heart healthy is just as important as eating right and excercising. so next time you feel too overworked, worried, or stressed.. remember to breathe and treat yourself to an hour of soaking in all of the goodness that you deserve!

healthy living

currently listening to "time after time" by eva cassidy

i know that, even as im typing this, i'm about to give advice that i have no place to give. but okay, lets think of it this way.. in posting this, im challenging myself to follow through with it too. get a good night's rest.

now everyone's body is different so really, a healthy amount of sleep can be anywhere between 7-9 hours, on average. i really haven't done this lately (or maybe "never" is the the word im  looking for), but i know that it's essential to start getting in a good night's rest for so many reasons. some of which include: emotional stability, better control of your weight, time for your body to repair itself, etc.

im a self-proclaimed insomniac (as im sure many of my gen y counterparts are as well) so i've implemented a few changes to help me:

1) turn off your computer/ tv 30 minutes prior

2) drink non-caffeinated tea

3) take a natural melatonin pill

4) read a book in bed (preferably not the hunger games)

5) use lavender lotion to calm your senses

mix and match however you see fit. some nights i honestly do all 5 because i can't get my mind to turn off. hope everyone gets a restful night of sleep tonight!

healthy living

currently listening to "on this train (live)" by zac brown band

as bikini season is in full effect, many of my friends have sworn to start crash diets. and while i definitely understand the appeal of fast results, im personally terrified that if i were to give in, i'd put the weight back on (plus some) just as quickly as i lost it. which is why im trying to stand my ground with the idea of making simple changes for a healthier lifestyle, not just a healthy week. what's one change i've implemented? replace a regular meal with a salad.

{a salad i made this week: romaine lettuce, cucumber, red onion, cherry tomatoes, goat cheese, avocado, and fresh ground pepper with a balsamic vinaigrette} 

after my trip to new york, i felt gross. simply put. i overloaded on pizza, pasta, cookies, etc... i can never turn down really, really good food (portion control is clearly my best friend). so when i arrived back in dallas, i thought "i really need to go on a liquid diet" -- that lasted, oh, about 5 seconds. instead, i opted to exchange a normal lunch or dinner meal with a salad. now, i normally eat side salads and do my fair share of greens throughout the week, but just by replacing an entire meal with a meal-sized salad has really helped me feel less guilt-ridden of my nyc indulgence. be mindful of what you're piling your salad with though; if you load your greens with bacon bits and ranch, that pretty much defeats the health factor. just give this change a go and you'll see how easy it really is!

healthy living

currently listening to "rich girl" by hall & oates

portion control, cutting calories, liquid diet, etc. etc. all of these weight loss remedies really make my head spin! not to throw another option into the mix, but here's one solution that's easy to maintain and doesn't require torturing: try the substitutes.

i know alot of people are weirded out by tofu or veggie burgers..  i was one of them! but before you write those off completely, try it.. you'll be saving yourself tons of calories and avoiding all that fat! i'll be honest though, the kinds that i've tried do not taste the same as a good 'ol beef burger, but if you're topping obsessed (like i am) anyway then you won't be missing out on flavor. i've had a portobello mushroom burger once and, i swear, it was better than any other meat burger i've ever tasted. for memorial day weekend, i even had the chance to try a beet burger.. i was a little nervous about it (since when was the last time i ate a beet? um... never?), but it was so. good. aaand now i want one, just great. try one for yourself!

other easy things you can try substituting would be:
vegenaise for mayonnaise
soy or almond milk for cow milk

healthy living

currently listening to "danny's song" by kenny loggins

sometimes it's hard to get a workout in when you're on a weekend vacation.. it could just be a pure laziness factor on my end, but i just think it's too much of a hassle to figure out where and how to get in a good workout. plus i never want to deal with packing gym clothes and sneakers in my incredibly small carry-on luggage (because aren't we all too cheap to check-in bags nowadays?). simple solution? walk everywhere.

when i have a longer trip, i make it a priority to continue my workout routine, but when it's a short one then i just try to get in as much walking as possible. i did this recently during my quick vacation to LA. just by avoiding the car, we walked over 5 miles in one day by walking to and from brunch and the beach (yes, we did calculate our efforts); we even woke up the next morning a little sore! making an extra effort to be more active helps even out those vacation calories. this can be applied when you're not on vacation too -- are you lucky enough that you have restaurants or other activities nearby? well instead of driving the 2 minutes to get there, why not walk? you'll only be spending a handful of minutes longer to get to and from your destination, but the aftermath is so worth it. good luck!

healthy living

currently listening to "starships" by nicki minaj (thanks alot david for making me obsessed with this)

i dont know about yall, but lately i've had to attend alot of dinners for weddings, graduation, and just overall summer celebrations. and i feel your pain.. it is really hard to eat well when there is just so. much. good. food. which brings me to this week's tip: balance it out.

trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle for the long run means not depriving or torturing yourself; it's a way of life, after all. if you know that you have to meet friends for brunch, then just be sure to eat a lighter dinner or -on the flip side- if there's a big dinner party that you're going to, then maybe stick to a breakfast and lunch that are predominately filled with fruits and veggies. it's really quite doable to still enjoy really great food while out celebrating with your friends if you just plan ahead. good luck and happy tuesday!

healthy living

currently listening to "bad news" by kanye west

similiar to this post, a very important tip to help you on your way to a healthier lifestyle is to keep yourself accountable. sorry to break the news, but no one is accountable for your own health but yourself. you can have motivators and even be enrolled in a thousand different programs, but in the end, you are the only person that can make the changes necessary and stick with them.

one great accountability tool would be using a food diary or you can find other resources like these self online tools (which i actually still use) to help put things in perspective. some people who are trying to lose weight swear by this method. this does not mean to obsess over the amount of calories you're intaking, how many inches you're losing, or how fast those pounds are dropping off the scale. trust me, i've been there. it's just not healthy.

but logging in calories from time to time is a great way to see a visual representation of your intake to remind yourself that maybe you don't need to consume over 2,000 calories a day. it's also great to see the progress that you've been making. there are some online tools that even break down the amount of protein, fiber, etc. that your specific body needs. maybe you only need a weekly check-up to keep you on track, or maybe you need more structure and choose to do it daily, whatever your choice, be sure to do it wisely because being healthy doesn't mean you have to torture yourself!

here's a great post from one of my favorite bloggers if you want to read more on losing weight.

healthy living

currently listening to "black magic" by magic wands

i think something that's often overlooked when trying to eat healthier are those pesky condiments. dont get me wrong, i love me some chick-fil-a sauce, but sorry to say it my friends: cut out those unnecessary condiments.  

no, this doesn't mean that you should get rid of sauces and such altogether, just that you should be a little more aware of what sauces you're using and how much you're intaking. for example, there's a HUGE difference in calories between ranch dressing and balsamic dressing. basically all mayo-based products should be avoided as much as possible. i know, i know.. it's the taste, but don't say i didn't warn you. stick with zero-calorie condiments like mustard or, at the very least, try using half the amount you usually would just to get you started on the right track. 

and this doesn't just go for sauces.. it goes for added salt too. i live in the great state of texas where everyone seems to salt their tortilla chips even after they've been highly smothered with sodium, avoid this and you'll feel less bloated -- i swear it! taking these little steps can prevent upwards of 200 calories (or more!) a day.. good luck and happy may :)

healthy living

there's no way you can be upset after you listen to this: "home" by edward sharpe & the magnetic zeros

im a consistent socializer.. as in, i hate sitting at home when i know i could be spending that time with friends. woeee to me. but as i've mentioned this before.. socializing and going out can get pretty unhealthy so this week's tip isn't rocket science, it's just about planning ahead: find out what restaurant you're meeting your friends at and look at the menu beforehand.

simple right? if you're anything like me then a new menu can stump you. if i don't have time to look up a menu before arriving then i always end up either A) taking forever and or B) ordering something incredibly unhealthy just on impulse. so just take the 5 minutes to go to a restaurant's website, look at their menu, and pick out something before your meal and stick with it. if i'm feeling extra-motivated, i'll even start plugging in the ingredients of a few dish options to calculate calories (if the nutritional facts aren't available) so i know what i'm getting myself into, but i know not everyone is as crazy as me has the time. good luck and happy tuesday!

healthy living

currently listening to "from the inside out" by hillsong united

it's really difficult nowadays to eat out and not want to consume the entire dish.. believe me, i understand. but if you're lucky like me then you have friends who are just as aware of the massive portions that our society has deemed "normal". so a simple thing to do the next time you're out socializing at a restaurant is to either split a meal or order an appetizer as your meal.

im sure you've heard so many people talk about how portion control is really what makes a difference when you're watching your figure; my brother always said "your abs start in the kitchen!" because no matter how much you workout, if you dont watch what you're intaking then it'll just take so. much. longer. before you can reach your goal.

splitting a meal will not only leave you satisfied, but it'll keep you healthy! i promise you.. you don't need to eat that entire plate of pasta from cheesecake factory. if you don't have anyone to go halfsies with then just box up half your meal before you dig in; it'll keep you from overeating. also, if everyone you're with wants their own dish then try ordering an appetizer. i like doing this because the portion size is usually much more reasonable, it's cheaper, and the dishes are usually more intriguing to me than normal main courses. my eyes are always bigger than my stomach, as im sure is the case for many of you, so just be mindful of your portion size the next time you're out with friends and remember: sharing is caring! :)

healthy living

currently listening to "here comes the sun/ the inner light" by the beatles

whether you're trying to maintain, gain, or lose weight.. a simple trick is to weigh yourself every day.

i know this may sound like a scary and or crazy thing to adopt into your daily routine, but how can you keep track of your progress if you don't consistently measure it? i weigh myself in the morning because it springboards me for the rest of the day, whether that means to be a little more conscience of what im eating during the day or if i need to do maybe 15 more minutes of exercise.. it's a motivator for me.

believe me, i've had a few friends act somewhat appalled (as im sure was your similar reaction) when they hear that i weigh myself every morning; it's not that i'm obsessing over it, i'm just trying to stay on track with my goals. it is part of my routine to do this daily, some of you may only need to do it once a week or every other week. in fact, if you aren't used to weighing yourself, then i would suggest starting off with weekly weigh-ins rather than daily ones. one thing to note though is that you should weigh yourself at the same time of day, for accuracy. and i seriously need to stress that keeping yourself accountable is NOT the same as tormenting over your weight.. please please please realize the difference. you'll do yourself a huge disservice if weighing yourself becomes a paperweight on your life rather than a stimulus to a better lifestyle.

also, be mindful that 1) fluctuations are normal 2) you may not see results right away 3) weight gain could be from an increase in muscle weight and 4) your weight does not tell the whole story. factors such as reducing your risk of disease, body fat percentage, food intake, and excercise are just a few other essentials on the road to a happier and healthier you -- good luck and happy scaling!

healthy living

incredible lyrics: "keep ya head up" by 2pac

in addition to working out, eating well, and smiling.. another important aspect of a healthy lifestyle is drinking 8 glasses of water a day.



there are several great health benefits linked with drinking that much water a day which include: weight loss, skin tone improvement, digestion regulation, and increased concentration (among many others). oftentimes, you may not even think that you're not drinking enough water because your body has just gotten used to the measely 2 or 3 glasses that you've been intaking. and if you're as active as i am, then you could probably even drink more than 8 glasses a day because your body is yearning for that hydration. when im at work, i make sure to keep a tally of how much water i've had that way i know the exact amount and its not a guessing game.. it may seem silly, but you'd be suprised to see how much water you've been depriving yourself!

if you're like my mom who doesn't like the "taste" of water (i know, it's weird) then try adding things to spruce up the flavor. you could try squeezing lemons and oranges in it for a citrusy taste or slicing cucumbers in it for a great summer refresher. i also find it so much more appealing when i drink out of a pretty glass and a fun straw, but that's really your call; alot of my friends swear by camelbak's spill proof bottles which are said to increase water intake by 24%. any way you go about it, just be sure that you're drinking enough water, especially since the hot summer months are approaching -- happy hydrating!

healthy living

heard this song at burberry's a/w 2012 fashion show and have been in love with it ever since: "it could have been better" by joan armatrading

one problem i've had with maintaining smart eating habits is going out to dinner with friends. i know i'm not the only one in this boat.. if i'm out then surely i need to order something; i can't just order a side salad for pete's sake! and for as often as i meet up with friends, it can actually get pretty unhealthy even when ordering the "healthiest" option. this issue can be remedied with this week's tip: eat a snack at home first.

it's really not a secret that i love to eat. i can often outeat my male counterparts, impressive i know, but also slightly disgusting (or so my mom says). something that i've started doing to make sure that i dont possibly scare off all of my friends with the amount of food that i can consume is to eat some type of pre-dinner nosh before i meet up with them. i usually opt for a small salad or grilled veggies; i eat this about 30 minutes before dinner plans so that the food can settle in which will make me less likely to a) order the entire restaurant menu and or b) consume an entire dish that is most likely packed with butter and salt.

sure, it's kind of a task to eat beforehand but going back to this post, always have healthy options at hand. i know it may be impossible to do this every time, especially if you have a full schedule like i do, but its a nice habit to get into. if anything else, start your meal off with a salad (if you're not ordering one as your meal) or find something on the menu packed with vegetables so you're full off of the good stuff!

healthy living

perfect song on this gloomy day: "can't go home" by good old war

lately it has been very seattle-like here in dallas, which is not my weather of preference, but there is just something about staying in, enjoying a nice cup of tea, and hearing the rain pitter-patter out on the windowsill that rewires my brain. and there really is nothing better than going to yoga in this weather, really and truly.. maybe its nature's way of calming my usually crazy go-go-go lifestyle; nevertheless, this week's healthy living tip: find a workout that you actually enjoy.

for me, its yoga. i try to go twice a day and every single time i feel rejuvenated, relaxed, and stronger when i leave; my body just smiles afterwards. working out can and should be therapeutic and healing -- im a constant worrier so the fact that i've found something that not only wakes my body up, but calms my mind and challenges stillness is really kind of incredible. it should feel as if you're giving your body a treat, a tall glass of water. i know of too many friends who absolutely hate their workout routine.. i never really understood this, if you dont like what you're doing then find something else! why would you put your body through something that it doesnt like? i've always done a variety of "exercises".. when i was little, it was dance class then tae kwon do (you're looking at a 2nd degree black belt here!) and over the summer, i was on a consistent runner's high when i lived along the coastline in california.. and now, its yoga (vinyasa flow, to be specific). you just need to find something that your heart and body yearns for.

if you can't stick with one form of exercise because consistency just isn't your thing (i.e. me), then switch it up! it doesnt have to be the same activity day in and day out, how boring. when i have time, ill run on the weekends or ride a bike and one of my favorite things to do (ever since i was basically in the womb) is play tennis. life is much too short to not enjoy every little thing that you're doing -- that goes for working out too! so relax, quit torturing yourself, and have fun with it :)

healthy living

currently listening to "the calculation" by regina spektor

happy tuesday! i can't believe that february is almost over... it felt like this month just flew by. has everyone been using the tips suggested over the past month? just to review:

1. drink 3 cups of green tea a day

2. always keep healthy snacks on hand
3. use your time wisely
4. make your meals at home
and as a follow up to last week's healthy living post about cooking at home... today's tip is to read labels. this one isn't news to anyone, im sure, but knowing how to read labels is the important part.

there are probably a thousand things to consider when reading labels but focus on these 3 to get you started:

a) serving size. more often then not, the serving size is the equivalent of your pinky so be sure you know what it is. don't trick yourself into thinking "wow! this entire box of cookies is only 120 calories?!" it isn't.
b) sodium, sodium, SODIUM! this is always the first thing that my eyes avert to when im reading labels. i try to stay away from buying packaged foods, but when i buy things like cereal, crackers, etc. i always make sure to compare the sodium content first. this is especially important when you're buying canned goods (beans, tomato paste, soup, etc).. they are a loaded with salt! opt for "low sodium" or "no salt added", but if you can, just buy the fresh version or drain out the can and rinse the vegetables.
c) take a close look at the ingredients. does everything basically look like its been written in a foreign language? think twice about buying it then because its probably filled with chemicals, preservatives, and basically everything else under the sun that isn't good for you. i gave up meat and meat products for lent (pause for reaction...) so this is something that i've had to really focus on when im at the grocery store.

reading labels can be tricky, but if you slowly start comparing and understanding the products that you're buying then hopefully you'll be more likely to make smarter choices. you'll be surprise at how quickly you're turned off by certain products just by carefully examining it's nutritional facts. to learn more about reading labels check these out: heart.org, realsimple.com, webmd.com.

*ps just because it's labeled "fat-free" or "low-fat" doesn't mean it's better for you. again, compare labels  -- you'll be shocked at the amount of bad additives they use to make up for the fact that it has "less fat". 

healthy living

currently listening to "hook you up" by sylver tongue

happy fat tuesday everyone! i don't know how everyone else is celebrating today, but i happen to have wonderful friends (as if yall didn't already know), one of which is throwing a dinner party tonight(!) fully equipped with bourbon street hand grenades.. cant. wait. which leads me to this week's healthy tip: make your meals at home.

 im sure many of you have heard this over and over again, but do you really follow through? i find it's easiest if i make several meals early on in the week so that i can just pack it up and go without having to worry about the fuss every day. if you don't have healthy meals on-hand, then of course you'll succumb to ordering that pizza or picking up fast food on the way home. it's just like my tip on snacking, being prepared will help keep you on track. oh and don't trick yourself into thinking that just because you're making it at home that it's necessarily healthy... canned and frozen (don't even get me started on microwavable) foods are packed with sodium, preservatives, etc. try to stick with fresh and organic ingredients to go that extra mile!

also, my big's company is hosting a recipe contest which is a great opportunity to jump start your at-home cooking endeavors now and challenge yourself to try out new recipes; you only have 3 days left to enter so be proactive! need a bigger incentive to enter? they haven't reached their recipe quota yet, so there's a pretty good chance that you'll automatically be placed in the top ten! happy cooking everyone :)

healthy living

currently listening to "diet mtn dew" by lana del rey

happy valentine's day everyone :) today is definitely a day to indulge... chocolate? wine? seconds? say yes to it all! after all, you deserve it. indulgence shouldn't be an everyday occurrence, but it's okay to treat yourself for your healthy habits every now and then. this week's suggestion on counteracting those cheat days: use your time wisely. it's a very simple tip that will go a long, long way.

how many times do you find yourself just vegging in front of the television? too many perhaps, if you're anything like me. well instead of just sitting there, why not squeeze in a few crunches? or ride a stationary bike at the gym when your favorite show is on? i've recently started using my lunch hour for yoga to utilize every spare minute that i have. for all of my fellow 9 to 5'ers -- i know its hard to find time to workout during the work week because by the time you leave work, you're exhausted.. i understand. and again, if you're anything like me.. i just cannot wake up early enough to do my workouts in the morning (kudos to all of you who have that type of motivation!).

well if you can't wake up at the break of dawn to workout and you've lost all motivation by the time you're headed home then use your lunch hour! why not go for a 30-minute walk when you're done eating? yes, even walking is exercise and it's better than you just sitting in front of a computer screen stalking facebook friends that you probably don't even talk to anymore. going for a walk will help clear your head too because it's not only important to be physically healthy, being mentally healthy is just as crucial.

and on this lovely holiday of roses and chocolates galore.. why not suggest going on an after-dinner walk with your honey? it'll be both romantic and heart-healthy (no pun intended).

healthy living

currently listening to "i'm good now" by bob schneider

today's healthy tip? always keep healthy snacks on hand.

if you had your cup of green tea (tip from last week) and your stomach is still growling, then be sure to have a few smart options handy.. its always easier said then done. and no, dont just try chewing a piece of gum to fend off hunger; just be prepared with healthy options and allow yourself to enjoy it.. you dont need to torture yourself just because you're hungry. sometimes, i pack up all of my snacks for the week in little ziplocs and leave them in my fridge so i dont go too off track. my favorite on-hand snacks include:

- whole wheat goldfish
- baby carrots (i dip mine in mustard!)
- celery and peanut butter
- raw natural almonds
- special k/ fiber one bars
- low sodium rice cakes
- dark chocolate
- 100 calorie pack popcorn
- raw sugar snap peas, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes
- clementines
- sliced apples with brie
- baked kale chips

my snack choices really just depend on where i am.. i try to keep a few options at my desk (goldfish, popcorn, special k bars, rice cakes), some in my purse (carrots, almonds), and at home (raw fruits/veggies, baked kale chips, cheese). snacking is not bad for you; it just depends on how often you do it, portion intake (don't eat that entire bag of goldfish in one sitting), why you're doing it (bored, aimlessly eating in front of the tv, etc.) and what you're snacking with.. so opt for healthier options the next time you reach for that pint of ice cream or bag of cheetos :) happy snacking everyone!

healthy living

currently listening to "run" by george strait

ive decided to start doing a "healthy living" post every tuesday; these suggestions are merely tips of the little things that i do to keep myself on track. of course, everyone has their slip ups and or splurges, especially myself. i have multiple chicken fried steak/ dr pepper/ fried okra/ chik-fil-a cravings as much as the next person (i am texas born and bred, of course), but for the most part, i attempt to live a healthy lifestyle.

hopefully you can take these weekly tips and start incorporating them into your own life so that each week you have a new challenge, and eventually these little tips will no longer just be a week-long goal, but a new lifestyle change.. things that you do without even thinking that its part of some "diet".

today's tip? drink 3 cups of green tea a day. i know that may sound excessive, but it helps ward off unnecessary hunger and will keep you hydrated. of course, there are a dozen of other health benefits that are linked to green tea, but i know im not the only one who snacks when they're bored.. so instead of snacking, try a cup of green tea! my favorite type is by a japanese brand ito en.